India sees expanding military ties to U.S.

Associated Press

Published Wednesday, February 20, 2002

NEW DELHI, India (AP) -- India is building a closer military relationship with the United States after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, easing a chill that dated to the Cold War, India's defense minister said Tuesday.

Defense Minister George Fernandes' comments came a day after Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said India intends to buy U.S. surveillance radar -- its first major military purchase from the United States.

The radar would be used to help fight Islamic militants in the disputed province of Kashmir, an Indian Defense Ministry source said. U.S. officials have not indicated that the radar would be used in Kashmir, and Washington has often said that it would not interfere in the dispute.

"It is unprecedented, since our cooperation was at such a low level," Fernandes told a news conference Tuesday. "Where there was a certain standoffishness, it went away."

"Post-Sept. 11, a different relationship was developed. Military-to-military cooperation has been worked out," he said.

During the Cold War, India professed to be nonaligned but depended politically and militarily on the Soviet Union. Washington tilted toward Pakistan, India's traditional rival.

India -- one of the world's biggest arms purchasers -- has traditionally bought most of its weapons from Moscow, but is now considering purchases from Washington as well. Indian officials say they need a strong defense against Pakistan and China.

Fernandes stressed that India's closer ties with the U.S. military will not clash with its defense ties with Russia.

"In international relations, we always do balancing acts," Fernandes said at a defense show in New Delhi. "We are working together (with both) and I don't think there is any conflict of interest between our relations with the U.S. and our relations with Russia."

In Honolulu, Indian and U.S. air force officials began a weeklong conference Monday to promote military cooperation. Joint army, navy and air force exercises "are on the cards and the program has been worked out. These will be regular features," Fernandes said.

India-U.S. relations went through their roughest phase after New Delhi conducted nuclear tests in 1998, followed by tests in Pakistan. The United States and other Western countries imposed economic sanctions on both nations. The U.S. has since lifted most of the sanctions.

Fernandes rejected Khan's criticism on Tuesday, saying: "Pakistan will not decide what we need. We will decide."

Fernandes also ruled out any immediate pullback of Indian troops massed on the border with Pakistan, saying Islamabad has not responded to demands that it end cross-border terrorism and extradite 20 men wanted for crimes in India.

India mobilized hundreds of thousands of soldiers on the frontier after blaming a bloody Dec. 13 attack on its Parliament on two Pakistan-based militant groups and Pakistan's spy agency. Pakistan and the militant groups denied any connection.

"We laid certain conditions. Those conditions haven't been met. So, the forces will remain there until a final decision is taken," Fernandes said.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since they won independence from Britain in 1947, two over the divided Himalayan province of Kashmir. India also fought a war with China in 1962.